Payment card amplification device

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a payment card amplification device comprising a card reader, an amplifier, an antenna, and a power supply. The card reader is configured to read payment card information from a payment card and generate an output signal comprising the payment card information. The amplifier is coupled to receive the card reader output signal and configured to generate an amplified signal comprising the payment card information. The antenna is coupled to receive the amplified signal and transmit the payment card information, wherein the transmitted payment card information can be read by a payment terminal. The power supply is coupled to a power source and configured provide power to the card reader and the amplifier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/241,020, filed Jan.7, 2019, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Debit cards, credit cards, and other types of payment cards may includeintegrated circuits (ICs) or “chips” that can perform processing on thecard to provide secure transactions, among other benefits. Such cardsmay be referred to as “smart cards,” “chip cards” or “IC cards.” EMV isa standardized payment method for smart cards and payment terminals(“EMV” is not an acronym, but rather a name derived from three companiesthat created the standard). An EMV card may store payment informationwithin an IC in addition to a magnetic stripe. Some smart cards must bephysically inserted into a card reader, while others are “contactless,”meaning that they are capable of transmitting payment card informationto a payment terminal without requiring physical contact between thecard and the terminal.

Because the cards have limited volume and surface area, power isfrequently a limited resource, such that low power transmitters are usedto conserve card resources. Additionally, the use of low powertransmitters limits the ability of unintended parties to eavesdrop ondata transmitted by the card. One such communications protocol to allowsmart cards and payment terminals to implement contactless payments isnear-field communication (NFC) technology. NFC is a set of communicationprotocols that enable two electronic devices to establish communication,using limited range transmitters to limit unintended reception of thecard information. NFC transmitters typically have a range of four (4) cmor less. Alternatively, card information may be transmitted by othercommunications protocols, including using cellular, wifi, and otherprotocols.

Many drive-thru restaurants and other businesses accept NFC-enabledpayment cards. In addition, some toll-road operators allow drivers topay using contactless credit and debit cards at toll booths.Alternatively, a driver may be able to obtain a specialized device(“transponder”) which allows them to pay for tolls without having tostop their vehicle. Each state or jurisdiction may have its owntransponder technology, and incompatible technologies may be used acrossthe country and even within the same state.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a payment cardamplification device may include: a card reader configured to readpayment card information from a payment card and generate an outputsignal including the payment card information; an amplifier coupled toreceive the card reader output signal and configured to generate anamplified signal including the payment card information; an antennacoupled to receive the amplified signal and transmit the payment cardinformation, wherein the transmitted payment card information can beread by a payment terminal; and a power supply coupled to a power sourceand configured to provide power to the card reader and the amplifier.

In some embodiments, the transmitted payment card information can beread by a payment terminal using near-field communication (NFC). In someembodiments, the amplified signal can have a power level and a directionselected to enable the transmitted payment card information to be readby a payment terminal at a distance of at least four (4) feet. In someembodiments, the device can include a switch having a first state and asecond state, wherein in the first state the switch permits transmissionof the payment card information, wherein in the second state the switchprevents transmission of the payment card information. In someembodiments, the switch can include a mechanical switch. In someembodiments, the switch includes an electronically controlled switch. Insome embodiments, the payment card information may include EMV data. Insome embodiments, the antenna may include a loop antenna. In someembodiments, the power supply can include a Universal Serial Bus (USB)adapter.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system mayinclude: a payment card amplification device including a card readerconfigured to read payment card information from a payment card; avehicle navigation system; and a payment controller coupled to thepayment card amplification device and the vehicle navigation system. Thepayment controller may be configured to: receive a current location fromthe vehicle navigation system, determine if payments are authorized atthe current location, and send a control signal to the payment cardamplification device to cause the payment card amplification device togenerate and transmit an amplified signal including the payment cardinformation such that the transmitted payment card information can beread by a payment terminal.

In some embodiments, the device can include a storage device, whereindetermining if payments are authorized at the current location includesretrieving authorized location information from the storage device. Insome embodiments, the vehicle navigation system includes a userinterface for authorizing payments at selected locations. In someembodiments, the payment card amplification device, vehicle navigationsystem, and payment controller may be powered by a battery within avehicle. In some embodiments, the payment controller can be configuredto, after a predetermined amount of time, send a control signal to thepayment card amplification device to cause the payment cardamplification device to stop transmitting the payment card information.In some embodiments, the payment card amplification device may beconfigured to read the payment card information from the payment cardusing near-field communication (NFC), wherein the transmitted paymentcard information can be read by a payment terminal using NFC. In someembodiments, the amplified signal can have a power level and a directionselected to enable the transmitted payment card information to be readby a payment terminal at a distance of at least four (4) feet. In someembodiments, the payment card information may include EMV data. In someembodiments, the system may include a loop antenna to transmit theamplified signal.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method caninclude: detecting a payment card can be read by a card reader; reading,by the card reader, payment card information from the payment card;receiving a current location from a location sensor; determining thepayment card was previously used within a predetermined radius of thecurrent location; and transmitting the payment card information, whereinthe payment card information is transmitted using sufficient power toenable the payment card information to be read by a payment terminal ata distance of at least four (4) feet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objectives, features, and advantages of the disclosed subjectmatter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the followingdetailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered inconnection with the following drawings, in which like reference numeralsidentify like elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a payment card amplification device, according tosome embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a payment card amplification device used within a vehicle,according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of payment card amplification device integrated witha vehicle navigation system, according to some embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing processing that may occur within apayment card amplification system, according to some embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, or inclusive of all elementsof a system, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustratingthe concepts, structures, and techniques sought to be protected herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an device for amplifyingand transmitting payment card information. Various different paymentcards can be supported, including magnetic swipe cards, smart cards,cards that must be inserted or “dipped” into a reader, contactlesscards, and EMV standard cards. In some embodiments, the device caninclude a slot or other opening into which a user can insert a credit ordebit card. In other embodiments, the user can tap or lay their card ona surface of the device, or place their card within close proximately ofthe device without direct contact between the card and device.

The amplification device (or “amplifier”) can read payment cardinformation from the card as a signal, amplify the signal, and transmitthe amplified signal into free space. The device may be configured togenerate an amplified signal with sufficient power (i.e., range) suchthat it can be received by payment terminals several feet away, e.g. atleast four (4) feet away. In some embodiments, the amplified signal maybe transmitted in a particular direction (e.g., using a directionalantenna pointed at the intended payment terminal) to prevent to thesignal from being received by an untrusted party. Thus, embodiments ofthe present disclosure can allow a user to make payments at a muchgreater range than would otherwise be possible.

In some embodiments, the payment card amplifier can be used within avehicle to allow a driver or passenger to pay for goods or services(e.g., at a drive-thru restaurant) without needing to pass their paymentcard outside the vehicle. In some embodiments, the device can be poweredby a vehicle's battery, for example using a USB (Universal Serial Bus)power adapter and/or the vehicle's cigarette lighter. In someembodiments, the payment card amplifier can be used to pay for tollroads without having to stop the vehicle and without requiring aspecialized transponder device. For compatibility with existingelectronic tolling locations, the payment card amplifier may transmitpayment card information using radio-frequency identification (RFID),according to some embodiments. Thus, drivers can use the same form ofpayment in any state that supports contactless payment terminals alongtheir toll roads, and passengers can share the cost by inserting theirown payment card into the device. In some embodiments, a payment cardamplification device can be integrated with a vehicle navigation system,such as a factory installed navigation system with a touchscreendisplay. The payment card amplifier can receive user input informationalong with geolocation data, such as Global Positioning System (GPS)data, from the vehicle navigation system.

In some embodiments, payment card amplifier can selectively transmit—ornot transmit-payment card information based on certain conditions. Forexample, the device may include a switch or button which the user canengage to cause the device to transmit payment card information. In someembodiments, the device may automatically transmit payment card based onwhere it is currently located. For example, a user may authorizepayments at certain locations. The device may retrieve its currentlocation (e.g., using GPS data from a vehicle navigation system),determine that the user previously authorized payments at that location,and then automatically amplify and transmit payment card informationinto free space. In some embodiments, a user may authorize selectedlocations using a vehicle navigation system's touchscreen device. Insome embodiments, the payment card amplifier can use a map of knownpayment locations to determine when to automatically transmit paymentcard information. For example, the amplifier can use a map of knownelectronic tolling locations such as a map of “EZ Pass” tollinglocations. In some embodiments, the payment card amplifier may include aradio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder for receiving andtransmitting RFID signals. In some embodiments, the RFID transponder maybe configured to recognize electronic tolling locations (e.g., EZ Passtolls) and, in response, to automatically transmit payment cardinformation.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a payment card amplification device (or“amplifier”), according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.The illustrative device 100 can include a power supply 102, card reader104, amplifier 106, and antenna 108. The power supply 102 can include aninput port 102 a coupled to power source 140, a first output port 102 bcoupled to a first port 106 a of amplifier 106, and a second output port102 c coupled to a first port 104 a of card reader 104. Card reader 104can include a second port 104 b coupled to an second port 106 b ofamplifier 106, and amplifier 106 can include a third port 106 c coupledto antenna 108.

Power supply 102 can include circuitry to regulate voltage and currentfrom power source 140. In some embodiments, power supply 102 may includea direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, or an alternatingcurrent to direct current (AC-DC) converter. In some embodiments, powersource 140 may be a USB power source and input port 102 a may be a USBport or adapter. Although the illustrative power supply 102 of FIG. 1 isshown as having two (2) output ports 102 b, 102 c, a skilled artisanwill understand how that the power supply can have an arbitrary numberof output ports (102 generally). Each of the output ports 102 mayprovide a signal having a voltage and current selected according to therequirements of the component coupled thereto.

Card reader 104 can include hardware and/or software configured to readpayment card information from payment card 120 and to generate an outputsignal at second port 104 b. The payment card information can include,for example, account number, expiration date, and a card verificationvalue (“CVV”) number. The information can also include electronicpayment information in tokenized and/or encrypted form, such as may beprovided by an EMV or other smart processor or storage on the card. Insome embodiments, the payment card information may correspond to EMVdata in accordance with the ISO/IEC 7816 standard. The output signal canbe an analog or digital signal that encodes the payment card informationread from payment card 120. In some embodiments, the output signal maybe an analog signal having radio frequency (RF), such as a signal withinan unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band.

In some embodiments, card reader 104 may include a slot into whichpayment cards 120 can be inserted or “dipped” to provide contact betweenthe reader 104 and an IC on the payment card. In some embodiments, cardreader 104 may have a magnetic card reader through which payment cards120 can be swiped. In some embodiments, card reader 104 may includehardware and/or software to receive contactless card transmissions frompayment cards 120. For example, card reader 104 may include NFC receivercircuitry. In this configuration, payment cards 120 need not be placedin direct contact with the reader 104 but, for example, could be placedin close proximity of the reader 104. For convenience, device 100 caninclude a card holder or slot into which the user can place theirpayment card 120 even if the card and reader 104 are contactless.

Amplifier 106 can include circuitry configured to receive, as input, thecard reader output signal at second port 106 b and to generate, asoutput, an amplified signal at third port 106 c. The amplified signalincludes or otherwise encodes the payment card information read fromcard 120. In some embodiments, the amplified signal is similar to thecard reader output signal except that it has increased power. Amplifier106 can include an RF power amplifier (PA) to convert a low-power RFsignal to a high-power signal. In some embodiments, card reader 104 mayoutput a baseband signal and amplifier 106 can include circuitry toup-convert the baseband signal to an RF signal within, for example, anISM band. A skilled artisan will understand that other RF bands can beused to transmit payment card information. In some embodiments, theamplification power can be varied to adjust the range of the transmittedpayment card information. For example, device 100 may include a dialwhich the user can adjust to increase or decrease the range of thetransmitted payment card information. As another example, theamplification power may be electronically controlled as discussed belowin conjunction with FIG. 3.

The amplified signal at port 106 c may be transmitted into free spacevia antenna 108. In some embodiments, antenna 108 may be provided as aloop antenna (sometimes referred to as a “power coil”). The transmittedsignal includes or otherwise encodes the payment card information whichcan be received by payment terminals within range. Thus, payment cardamplification device 100 can be used to complete payments at a greaterdistance than would otherwise be possible using existing technologies.

In some embodiments, device 100 can include a switch 110 thatselectively controls when the device transmits the payment cardinformation. As shown in FIG. 1, switch 110 may be positioned betweencard reader 104 and amplifier 106 in some embodiments. Moreparticularly, switch 110 may have a first terminal coupled to cardreader port 104 b and a second terminal coupled to amplifier port 106 b.Switch 110 can be provided as a mechanical switch, such as a momentarybutton that can be presented by a user, or as an electronicallycontrolled switch. In some embodiments, switch 110 may be electronicallycontrolled, as discussed below in the context of FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, device 100 may function as receiver as well as atransmitter. For example, antenna 108 can receive a wireless signaltransmitted from a payment terminal and the received signal may be sentto the payment card 120 via card reader 104. In this configuration,amplifier 106 may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) configured toreceive an RF signal from antenna 108 via port 106 c, and to provide anamplified signal (with a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ration) toport 104 b of card reader 104. Thus, ports 106 c, 106 b, and 104 b maycorrespond to bi-directional ports, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates how a payment card amplification device (or“amplifier”) can be used to make purchases from within a vehicle,according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. A payment cardamplifier 200, which can be the same or similar to device 100 in FIG. 1,may be located within a car, truck, or other type of vehicle 202.Amplifier 200 may have a portable form factor suitable to be placed in acup holder or mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle 202. In someembodiments, amplifier 200 may be fixedly attached to the inside of thevehicle 202. In some embodiments, amplifier 200 may be integrated into avehicle navigation system.

A driver or passenger within vehicle 202 may insert a payment card intoor otherwise place a card nearby amplifier 200. The amplifier 200 canread the card information and generate an amplified signal 208transmitted into free space. The transmit signal, which includes orotherwise encodes the payment card information, may be received by apayment terminal 204 within range. The amplification power of the device200 may be selected such that the transmitted signal can reach thepayment terminal 204. The payment terminal 204 may be located, forexample, at a drive thru restaurant or toll booth 206.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of payment card amplifier integrated with a vehiclenavigation system, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The illustrative system 300 can include a payment cardamplifier 302 coupled to a vehicle navigation system 304 via a paymentcontroller 306. Payment card amplifier 302, vehicle navigation system304, and payment controller 306 may each be connected to and powered bya battery 310 within the vehicle. In some embodiments, the system 300can include a storage device 308 configured to store information aboutlocations at which payments have been authorized. In some embodiments,storage device 308 may be provided as non-violate computer memory, suchas flash memory.

Vehicle navigation system 304 can include a GPS receiver 312 and a userinterface (UI) 314. The UI 314 can include hardware and/or softwareconfigured to display information to a user and to receive input fromthe user. In some embodiments, UI 314 may include a touchscreen device.UI 314 can use location data from GPS receiver 312 to determine thevehicle's current location and display the current location to the useron a map display. In some embodiments, UI 314 can allow a user to selectspecific locations at which payments are authorized. For example, UI 314may allow a user to authorize payments at (or near) a particularlocation by touching or clicking on a point on a map display. As anotherexample, UI 314 may allow a user to enter a particular street addresswhere payments are authorized. As yet another example, the user mayenter the name of a business, or chain of businesses, at which paymentsare authorized. The authorized locations (e.g., GPS coordinates, streetaddresses, and/or place names) may be sent to payment controller 306 andstored within storage device 308.

Payment card amplifier 302, which may be the same as or similar toamplifier 100 described above in the context of FIG. 1, can beconfigured to selectively transmit a user's payment card informationinto free space based on an electronic control signal from paymentcontroller 306. In some embodiments, payment card amplifier 302 mayinclude or otherwise be coupled to a mechanical control (e.g., a button)which the user can activate to cause payment card information to betransmitted or not, thus providing an override to payment controller306. In some embodiments, the user can authorize payments at a currentlocation using the mechanical control.

Payment controller 306 can include hardware and/or software to interfacewith vehicle navigation system 304, to read and write data to storagedevice 308, and to control the payment card amplifier 302. Paymentcontroller 306 can receive user input information from vehiclenavigation system 304 and/or payment card amplifier 302. The user inputinformation may include information about specific locations for whichthe user authorizes payments. Payment controller 306 can recordauthorized location information to storage device 308.

In some embodiments, payment controller 306 can cause the amplifier 302to transmit payment card information automatically based on thevehicle's current location. In particular, payment controller 306 canreceive, on a continuous or near-continuous basis, current locationinformation from vehicle navigation system 304 and compare the receivedlocation information against previously authorized location information(e.g., within storage device 308). In response to determining thatpayments are authorized for the current location, payment controller 306may send a control signal to amplifier 302 causing it to transmitamplified payment card information into free space. In some embodiments,payment controller 306 can control the amplification power of paymentcard amplifier 302. For example, payment controller 306 may select aminimum amplification power needed to transmit the payment cardinformation to a nearby payment terminal based on information aboutwhere the payment terminal is located relative to the vehicle. In someembodiments, payment controller 306 can cause amplifier 302 to stoptransmitting payment card information after a predetermined amount oftime has passed.

In some embodiments, payment controller 306 and/or storage device 308may be provided upon the same hardware resources as vehicle navigationsystem 304.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing processing that may occur within apayment card amplification device or system (e.g., as device 100 of FIG.1 or system 300 of FIG. 3), according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Illustrative method 400 can be used to automaticallytransmit payment card information to payment terminals when a paymentcard amplification device (or “amplifier”) is moved to an authorizedlocation (or a vehicle in which the amplifier is situated travels to theauthorized location).

At block 402, payment card information is read from a payment card. Forexample, a card reader (e.g., card reader 104 in FIG. 1) can readinformation from a card that is inserted into or placed in closeproximity to a payment card amplification device (e.g., amplifier 100 inFIG. 1). Communication between the amplification device and the cardreader may be bi-directional.

At block 404, a current location associated with the amplifier isdetermined. In some embodiments, the amplifier can include a GPSreceiver used determine the current location. In other embodiments, theamplifier may receive the current location from a vehicle navigationsystem (e.g., navigation system 304 in FIG. 3).

At block 406, it is determined if payments are authorized at the currentlocation. In some embodiments, the amplifier may include or otherwisehave access to a storage device configured to store authorized locationinformation. For example, the storage device may store GPS coordinates,street addresses, and/or place names where payments are authorized. Insome embodiments, the amplifier can use a map of known payment locationsto determine when to automatically transmit payment card information.For example, the amplifier can use a map of known electronic tollinglocations such as a map of “EZ Pass” tolling locations. In someembodiments, the amplifier may include a button or other type ofmechanical switch that the user can activate to authorize payments atthe current location. The amplifier may record the current location tostorage as an authorized location such that payments are automaticallyauthorized at the same location in the future. In some embodiments, auser can authorize locations using a vehicle navigation system, e.g.using a touchscreen or other user input device.

At block 408, if payments are authorized at the current location, thenat block 410, the amplifier may wirelessly transmit the payment cardinformation where it can be received by payment terminals. In someembodiments, a payment controller (e.g., controller 306 in FIG. 3) sendsan electronic control signal to the amplifier causing it to transmit thepayment card information, such as in response to a transmission request.In some embodiments, the amplifier transmits the payment cardinformation for a predetermined amount of time before stoppingtransmission. In some embodiments, the transmit time period might beselected based on signal strength and/or information about the operatingenvironment. For example, if a high transmit power is selected, a shorttransmit time period may be selected to reduce the chance that thepayment information will be intercepted by a third party. As anotherexample, when driving through a toll both at relatively high speed, alonger transmit time period may be selected to increase the likelihoodthat the signal will be received by the payment terminal (a highertransmit power may also be selected in this scenario). If payments arenot authorized at the current location, then the amplifier does nottransmit the card information and may stop any in-progress transmissions(block 412). The method 400 may repeat from block 404, as shown in FIG.1.

Methods described herein may represent processing that occurs within adevice or system, such as device 100 of FIG. 1 or system 300 of FIG. 3.The subject matter described herein can be implemented in digitalelectronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware,including the structural means disclosed in this specification andstructural equivalents thereof, or in combinations of them. The subjectmatter described herein can be implemented as one or more computerprogram products, such as one or more computer programs tangiblyembodied in an information carrier (e.g., in a machine readable storagedevice), or embodied in a propagated signal, for execution by, or tocontrol the operation of, data processing apparatus (e.g., aprogrammable processor, a computer, or multiple computers). A computerprogram (also known as a program, software, software application, orcode) can be written in any form of programming language, includingcompiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form,including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. Acomputer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A programcan be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data,in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiplecoordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to beexecuted on one computer or on multiple computers at one site ordistributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communicationnetwork.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification, includingthe method steps of the subject matter described herein, can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions of the subject matter describedherein by operating on input data and generating output. The processesand logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus of the subjectmatter described herein can be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processor of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. Information carrierssuitable for embodying computer program instructions and data includeall forms of nonvolatile memory, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memorydevice, or magnetic disks. The processor and the memory can besupplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

It is to be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not limitedin its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The disclosed subject matter is capable ofother embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily beutilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, andsystems for carrying out the several purposes of the disclosed subjectmatter. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded asincluding such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.

Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustratedin the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thepresent disclosure has been made only by way of example, and thatnumerous changes in the details of implementation of the disclosedsubject matter may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a payment cardamplification device comprising: a card reader configured to readpayment card information from a payment card and generate an outputsignal comprising the payment card information, the card reader at leastpartially disposed in a housing of the payment card amplificationdevice; an amplifier independent from the card reader and selectivelycoupled to the card reader, the amplifier configured to receive theoutput signal from the card reader and configured to generate anamplified signal comprising the payment card information, the amplifieris at least partially disposed in the housing; an antenna directlycoupled to the amplifier and configured to receive the amplified signalfrom the amplifier and transmit the payment card information, whereinthe transmitted payment card information can be read by a paymentterminal; a switch comprising a first terminal coupled with the cardreader and a second terminal coupled with the amplifier, the switchhaving a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state theswitch permits transmission of the payment card information, wherein inthe second state the switch prevents transmission of the payment cardinformation; and a power supply coupled to a power source and configuredto provide power to the card reader and the amplifier, wherein theamplifier and the card reader are coupled to the power supply; and acontroller coupled with the payment card amplification device, thecontroller configured to actuate the switch between the first state andthe second state based on a geographical location of the payment cardamplification device.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmittedpayment card information can be read by the payment terminal usingnear-field communication (NFC).
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein theamplified signal has a power level and a direction selected to enablethe transmitted payment card information to be read by the paymentterminal at a distance of at least four (4) feet.
 4. The system of claim1 wherein the payment card information comprises EMV data.
 5. The systemof claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a loop antenna.
 6. The systemof claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a Universal Serial Bus(USB) adapter.
 7. A method, comprising: reading, by a card reader of apayment card amplification device, personal identification informationassociated with a payment card, the card reader at least partiallydisposed in a housing of the payment card amplification device;determining, by a controller in communication with the payment cardamplification device, whether payments are authorized at a currentgeographical location of the payment card amplification device;responsive to determining that payments are authorized at the currentgeographical location, actuating, by the controller, a switch coupling asignal amplifier to the card reader to an on position, wherein, in theon position, the switch permits transmission of the personalidentification information; generating, by the card reader, an outputsignal that comprises the personal identification information read bythe card reader; transmitting, by the card reader, the output signal toan amplifier independent from the card reader and selectively coupled tothe card reader, the amplifier at least partially disposed in thehousing; amplifying, by the amplifier, an amplified signal thatcomprises an encoded representation of the personal identificationinformation; and transmitting, by an antenna directly coupled to theamplifier, the amplified signal to a payment terminal within range ofthe payment card amplification device.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinamplifying, by the amplifier of the payment card amplification device,the amplified signal that comprises the encoded representation of thepersonal identification information comprises: converting the outputsignal from a low-power radio frequency signal to a high-power radiofrequency signal.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein amplifying, by theamplifier of the payment card amplification device, the amplified signalthat comprises the encoded representation of the personal identificationinformation comprises: converting the output signal from a basebandsignal to a radio frequency signal within an industrial, scientific, andmedical radio band.
 10. A system, comprising: a processor incommunication with a controller a payment card amplification devicecomprising a card reader, a signal amplifier, and an antenna, whereinthe card reader is independent from the signal amplifier and selectivelycoupled to the signal amplifier and the signal amplifier is directlycoupled to the antenna, the card reader and the signal amplifier areboth at least partially disposed in a housing of the payment cardamplification device; and a memory, having programming instructionsstored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, performs one ormore operations, comprising: reading, by the card reader, personalidentification information associated with a payment card; determining,by the controller, whether payments are authorized at a currentgeographical location of the system; responsive to determining thatpayments are authorized at the current geographical location, actuatinga switch coupling the signal amplifier to the card reader to an onposition, wherein in the on position the switch permits transmission ofthe personal identification information; generating, by the card reader,an output signal that comprises the personal identification informationread by the card reader; transmitting, by the card reader, the outputsignal to the signal amplifier; amplifying, by the signal amplifier, anamplified signal that comprises an encoded representation of thepersonal identification information; and transmitting, by the antenna,the amplified signal to a payment terminal within range of the paymentcard amplification device.
 11. The system of claim 10, whereinamplifying, by the signal amplifier, the amplified signal that comprisesthe encoded representation of the personal identification informationcomprises: converting the output signal from a low-power radio frequencysignal to a high-power radio frequency signal.
 12. The system of claim10, wherein amplifying, by the signal amplifier, the amplified signalthat comprises the encoded representation of the personal identificationinformation comprises: converting the output signal from a basebandsignal to a radio frequency signal within an industrial, scientific, andmedical radio band.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the amplifiedsignal has a power level and a direction selected to enable theamplified signal to be read by the payment terminal at a distance of atleast four (4) feet.